First Charges Filed in Benghazi Attack Probe

6 Aug 2013

Federal authorities have filed charges in New York against militia leader Ahmed Abu Khattala. These are the first criminal charges filed by the Department of Justice in connection with the Benghazi attack.

Authorities believe Khattala’s militia Ansar al-Sharia was involved in the Benghazi attack, but specific details of the charges have not been made known.

CNN reports that the investigation is being led by “agents from the FBI in New York” together with agents “from the Washington field office.” However, because the charges “are sealed,” the FBI has refused to speak with reporters on the matter.

But Khattala has been willing to talk. He told CNN that “he had not been questioned by either Libyan authorities or the FBI.”

Some within the U.S. law enforcement community say “it’s not unusual for the FBI not to seek to interview defendants in a case while they collect other evidence.”